Anand Mahindra Thinks This Startup Inspired By Mumbai's Dabbawalas Is Evidence Of 'Reverse Colonisation'

Business magnate Anand Mahindra’s social media is a treasure trove of all things intriguing. Well, guess what? Mahindra Group Chairman is back at it again. This time, he gave the internet a glance at one of the “evidence of reverse colonisation”. On Sunday, he dropped a video on X (formerly Twitter), wherein a UK startup, inspired by the popular dabba service of Mumbai, can be heard asking for investment. In the clip, the entrepreneurs can be heard explaining the benefits of this Mumbai-style Dabba service, compared to any normal tiffin service. Little did we Indians would have realised how eco-friendly this dabbawala system is.

In the clip, the startup can be heard saying, “We are Dabba Drop, London’s fastest-growing tiffin service. And we are looking for investors to help take our service nationwide. Inspired by Mumbai’s world-famous Dabbawala System we are on a mission to change the way Britain does takeaway, using the simple zero-waste system we currently deliver to all of London zones. This is done using India’s iconic and much-loved tiffin, instead of the single-use plastic containers.” While sharing the clip, Anand Mahindra wrote, “No better—or more ‘delicious’—evidence of reverse colonisation!”

Needless to say, the clip has been making rounds on the internet, with several users flooding the comments section, while lauding the Dabbawala services. Many claimed that they need this kind of service in their region. A comment read, “Dabbawalla became a case study for a reason. To implement such strategies across cities/nations…”

Another read, “We need this in Los Angeles.”

A user pointed out, “India inspiring others.”

Another said, “India has always been imparting knowledge to the world but never cashed in on it, unlike the West.”

However, a few pointed out the basic difference between this UK startup and Mumbai’s Dabbawala service. They went on to compare this Dabbawala services with food delivery apps like Zomato and Swiggy, as one said, “Dabbawalas in Mumbai work on a different pattern, they collect food from respective houses & deliver at the workplaces This is more like a Swiggy, same food being packed at one place & then delivered to various people – anyway good start-up.”

“No… It’s not like that…They are not supplying their home-cooked meals like Dabbewala of Mumbai…They pick up meals from an eatery and supply them… A version of Zomato only…,” said another.

What do you think of this Dabbawala-inspired tiffin service?